Judaism Archives – Page 781 of 813

Collective Hearing

Rabbi Elazar Muskin January 11, 2001

Not long ago, on a trip to Israel, I heard the following story about an Israeli doctor and patient.

Like other children of intermarriage, Joshua Boettiger struggled with the issue of religious identity, but he said that his clearest connection to Judaism surfaced during his junior year in college, which he spent in Damascus, Syria.

Global Confusion

Michael J. Jordan January 4, 2001

In what may be another case of an e-mail rumor run amok, the Anti-Defamation League is laying to rest allegations that Wal-Mart and Sam\’s Club are selling globes nationwide that denote \”Palestine\” but not Israel.

Familial Forgiveness

Rabbi Susan Laemmle January 4, 2001

The syllabus for my USC general education class includes both Shakespeare\’s \”The Tempest\” and chapters 37-50 of Genesis — the Joseph story or \”novella.\” These two narratives share themes that commend themselves: forgiveness and reconciliation. Both Prospero and Joseph were set upon by their own brothers and narrowly escaped death. Both protagonists contributed to their victim role — Prospero through neglecting governance and Joseph by insensitive boasting. In the end, though, both forgive those who abused them — enabling their family circle to be repaired and the next generation blessed. Just as Prospero realizes that \”the rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance,\” so too does the instinct for reconciliation surge through Joseph.